Help! I need a MI!

Going from Utley to one of these two… ouch. Both have good eyes at the plate and Rhymes has more speed where Emaus has more power.

Rhymes’ upside is probably .300 AVG with 20 SB and no power at the bottom of the Tigers lineup so very few R and RBI.

Emaus on the other hand could give you .270 AVG with 12 HR, 10SB and a few more R and RBI.

Rhymes strikesout a bit more and walks less so Emaus has the advantage there. Both will likely be their team’s starting second basemen as Rhymes was just announced as getting the job and Emaus is the front runner. I would go Emaus cause of the power and better eye. He is a much better chance to become an above average hitting second baseman in the majors.

not sure Murphy can play 2b and they sent Turner down to AAA.

Emaus- he’s a Rule 5 pick so likely to stick with the Mets. Sportsline has him as SS eligible, but not 2b. But he could find himself hitting toward the bottom of the line-up which could end up being 20 ab’s a week total. Depending on how Carlos Beltran recovers this season, it’s possible that Emaus could find himself toward the top of the line up but more than likely that will not happen unless he is exceptional vs. LHP or RHP in particular. I don’t have his MiLB splits available. Also, I don’t have any reason as to why he never advanced above the AA level…that could be a myriad of reasons.

Rhymes- is slotted as the #2 hitter in the Tiger line up vs RHP. So he should see 25 ab’s per week. That’s like adding an extra game per week to his schedule vs. Emaus. Plus there will be the inherent rbi and runs scored possibilities not present at the bottom of the line up in the NL. Rhymes is waiting for Carlos Guillen to return from injury. I suspect that with the slow starts of Ryan Raburn that LF will be a potpourri for Detroit which could include Guillen. So 2b may be available for Rhymes once Guillen returns unless Raburn (or Brannan Boesch) have some strong games to begin the season.

If you want a player that could possibly break out and have a big season I think you definitely have to go with Emaus. He has some pop in his bat plus the SS eligibility and he could make his way to the top of a Mets line up which could be a decent run scoring group should some certain pieces fall into place.

If you want a player who will get some at bats at the top of a line up which will enable him to score some runs as well as have a presumptively decent avg/obp then Rhymes is your guy.

Both players come with risks, certainly. I think once Raburn gets going the chance of Rhymes seeing everyday duty gets very slim, especially if Guillen and some of the other 2b and OF candidates start hitting well.

In all I think I would just pull the trigger on Emaus and see what happens. If Emaus ends up failing I think you don’t lose all that much with what Rhymes brings to the table.

Is anyone else available who is 2b eligible?

He will be hitting in front of Mauer and Morneau.

But Jose Lopez is a 3B, but will be starting at 2B for Colorado. If he is available he could give you some pop in that stadium.

projected to be the #2 hitter in SF. Will get the most AB’s and probably hit around .280-.290. Also, his K% is only 12% for his career.